Forever: Patience

Patience -The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without gettingangry.

1.   My anger has often seemed out of proportion-that is ,too great or too little,but more often too great-for the occasion that gave rise to it.

2.    My anger has more oftendistressed those I love and who love me than it has affected those at whom Iwas angry.

3.    My anger has not carried me farenough toward changing what legitimately enrages me. In fact, the anger oftensaps the conviction

 Garret Keizer,The Enigma of Anger

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness andself-control.
- Galatians5:22-23

Makrothumia= patience needed to deal with others.

Hupomone= patience needed to deal with circumstances.

Makrothumia (others) patienceinspired by mercy.

Hupomone (circumstances) patienceinspired by hope.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful todo what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, asfar as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not takerevenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,
- Romans 12:17-19

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until theLord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuablecrop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 Youtoo, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
- James 5:7-8

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in theface of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Asyou know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.
- James 5:10-11

 For Christ also suffered once forsins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He wasput to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.  After beingmade alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the daysof Noah while the ark was being built.
- 1 Peter 3:18-20

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Patience with others = pray for mercy

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Patience with circumstances = pray for hope

Mixer

What cartoon or movie character were you most scared of as a child?

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Daily Devotional Questions

In Pastor Ken’s Wednesday 10/21 entry, Sometimes He Calms the Storm, we are reminded of the reality of how oftentimes Jesus calms His child in the midst of the storm instead. Why would He do it that way? Where has He done it in your life?

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Strongest You Questions

1. In Episode 4 (10.22.20), Mike lists the 4 Dangerous Thinking Traps. Give examples of what a thought might sound like in each of the 4 categories. Which category best describes where you hang out the most?

2. In the first category “My thoughts are reality”, what kind of negative thoughts do you have about yourself that you are convinced are true? Where did those thoughts come from? And how could Mike’s 2 Questions to Ask help turn those thoughts around?

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Sermon Questions

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 12:17-19; James 5:7-8, 10-11; 1 Peter 3:18-20

1. Pastor Jared gave a definition out of Webster’s Dictionary regarding patience. What is patience really about? He referenced Garret Keizer’s book, The Enigma of Anger, and the 3 reasons [boiling point anger issues] why he wrote the book. Discuss Keizer’s points and what damage each one causes.
   
2. One kind of patience the Apostle Paul talks about in Romans 12:17-1 is the Greek word “Makrothumia.” Pastor Jared said that as Christians, we don’t enter into situations of conflict, arguments, responding to hurt... like other people do. The Apostle Paul tells us to “leave room for God’s wrath.” What is it that we struggle to understand about our role and God’s role in our world? If patience is important to Him, why should it also be important to us?
   

The Apostle Paul gives us another Greek word “Hupomone” in James 5:7-8 to illustrate a different kind of patience. Pastor Jared asked us this question: Where have you lost hope that God is bringing the spring rains to your life? What are you understanding about God and how He works in circumstances and by His timing?

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Live it out

Why, if God is a God of Justice, is He incredibly patient with you? In the Bible, when God’s justice was dispensed, what always preceded it, and why?

Remember where God held back His justice and was merciful to you throughout your life. What is one hurt, dislike or disappointment that you will commit to let go of by extending mercy to that person? What changes, and how will you make this stick?

Find a way this week to use the principles of the agricultural metaphor in James 5:7-8 to bring hope to a hurting friend this week. Share what happens with your group.